"Damn it, Li Yi!"
Pei Shaoze clenched his fists so tightly that veins bulged on his arms. Suppressing the murderous rage boiling inside him, he grabbed a pillow and placed it under Su Banxia's body. "Wait here, I'll get you medicine!"
With that, he turned and strode out.
The sight of his tall, imposing back made Su Banxia's nose sting. In those six years in France, despite Lin Tongze's help, she had mostly endured things on her own. Even when it hurt, she didn't dare cry out, afraid of worrying the two little ones at home!
Before long, Pei Shaoze returned with a medical kit.
"Lie still and don't move."
His deep voice rang out, carrying an inexplicable hint of gentleness.
Su Banxia obeyed without a word.
Soon, a cool, soothing sensation spread across her back. Whatever ointment it was, it quickly eased the fiery sting of the wounds.
After finishing with her back, Pei Shaoze frowned and asked with concern, "Any other injuries?"
Thinking of the whip mark on her chest—that hard-to-mention spot—Su Banxia hesitated for a second before shaking her head. "No."
That fleeting hesitation didn't escape Pei Shaoze's notice.
"Stupid woman, trying to fool me again."
He scoffed coldly, then, ignoring Su Banxia's struggle, gave a sharp tug. Her already precarious clothes fell away instantly, exposing the wound on her chest to his eyes.
Pei Shaoze's pupils contracted slightly, and he practically growled through gritted teeth, "Damn it!"
After cursing, he still carefully applied the ointment to Su Banxia's wound. Sensing her resistance, he snorted and shot her a teasing glance.
"We've done it so many times—what part of you haven't I seen? Why so coy?!"
Hearing this, Su Banxia silently lowered the hand she had been holding over her chest.
After the medicine was applied, it was getting late. Thinking of the two little ones at home, Su Banxia grew restless.
"No, I have to go back!"
No matter how mature Su Hao was, he was still just a five-year-old child!
She couldn't stop worrying!
Pei Shaoze, who was on his phone berating a subordinate, immediately hung up at her words and glared at her darkly. "You're in this state and still thinking about going back? Fine, if you can move, I won't stop you."
Su Banxia gritted her teeth, a stubborn look on her face, and braced herself against the headboard to get up. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Pei Shaoze's expression shift and his body tense, which made her nervous too. But her hand slipped, and she collapsed back down.
"Don't try to be tough. Just stay put!"
Pei Shaoze's strong hand pressed her back down, his movements unconsciously gentle.
After a moment of silence, Su Banxia grabbed her phone and called Fang Shiqing.
"Shiqing, are you home? Have the two little ones been any trouble?"
It was late, and she worried the kids hadn't eaten yet.
But—
"Xiaxia!" Fang Shiqing was startled too. "Didn't you say you'd be home early today?"
She paused, then added reluctantly, "I thought you were home, and Shanshan had no one with her, so I went to take care of her."
In no time at all, she, who usually disliked Zhang Shanshan, was calling her "Shanshan" affectionately. And Zhang Shanshan's People's Hospital was nowhere near where they lived—a round trip took over two hours.
"Should I head back now? I'm worried about the kids being alone."
Having already caused so much trouble, Su Banxia bit her lip and declined. "No, no, go ahead with your stuff. I'll figure something out."
As soon as Su Banxia hung up, she met Pei Shaoze's deeply complicated gaze.
"Just say what you want to say."
She said helplessly.
Pei Shaoze awkwardly turned his head, his deep, cold-pool-like eyes gazing out the window. After a long pause, he spoke as if condescending to offer, "I don't mind if you bring the kids here to take care of them."
Su Banxia froze, staring at him with wide, jet-black almond eyes. Her eyes were stunning—crystal clear, black and white distinct, like a giant magnet that drew people in irresistibly.
She knew all too well how territorial he was. No one could enter his villa's bedroom or study—not even his own sister, Pei Shaoyin, was welcome, let alone two children with "no blood relation" to him.
When she didn't answer for a long time, Pei Shaoze's gaze flickered, and he sneered, "What, afraid I'll sell the kids?"
Psychologically, he was deeply unsettled by the twins. Their existence constantly reminded him that his woman had borne children for another man. Yet emotionally, he couldn't bring himself to dislike them—he even felt a bit fond of them. It was so contradictory it didn't feel like him.
Weighing the pros and cons, Su Banxia broke into a bright smile. "Then thank you for your kindness, President Pei."
Pei Shaoze frowned and shot her an annoyed glare. "Call me Shaoze!"
This woman was deliberately trying to provoke him!
Su Banxia's eyes curved into a lovely crescent-moon shape. "Alright, Shaoze."
Satisfied, Pei Shaoze immediately sent a driver to pick up the kids.
Ten minutes later, Su Banxia's phone rang.
"Mom, did that driver uncle come from you to pick me and my sister up?"
Even through the phone, Su Banxia could picture little Su Hao frowning, his small face serious.
Pei Shaoze, shamelessly eavesdropping, snorted lightly. "Pretty suspicious, huh."
"Ahem."
Su Banxia shot him a discreet glare.
Emphasizing, "It's not suspicion—it's caution and cleverness!"
And that overly mature, suspicious demeanor—it's just like you, she thought to herself.
She confirmed into the phone, "Yes, Mom sent him. Get in the car and come over."
Just as they were about to hang up, Su Guoguo's pitiful voice came through. "Mom, you only talked to my brother—do you not like me anymore? Boohoo... Mom doesn't want me..."
The little one's sobs made Su Banxia both exasperated and amused. She patiently coaxed, "No, Mom loves our beautiful little princess Guoguo the most..."
Before hanging up, she could faintly hear Su Hao comforting his sister.
"Your two kids are interesting."
Pei Shaoze said flatly, but somehow it sounded a bit sour.
Su Banxia quickly shook off that absurd thought, taking it as a compliment, and proudly declared, "Of course! One is steady and sensible, the other soft and adorable!"
Praise for her children made her far happier than praise for herself.
Watching the woman who looked like she'd grow a tail and strut around, Pei Shaoze unusually didn't argue.
After lingering in the room for a moment, he grabbed his phone and stepped out.
A few minutes later, Su Banxia's phone rang.
The caller was Ye Hengtian—the one who had thoroughly schemed against her!